The (tr)uSDX is a little bitty Software Defined Radio (SDR) that’s not much bigger than a pack of cigarettes. It´s the Result of the Collaboration between PE1NNZ and DL2MAN. The design was intended as an easy to build Kit. But, assembled units are available on Amazon and Aliexpress from “approved” sellers.
DL2MAN, Manual Klaerig, is the driving force of this open-source fun little transceiver. Manual maintains a website that describes the (tr)uSDX and everything about it, so I won’t regurgitate it here.
When I first got my General… I tried FT8 using my 54′ Random Wire End-Fed and was surprised at the performance of this rig. I put out 5 Watts at 50% duty cycle for over six hours straight several times… No overheating, no blown finals.
In my first attempt, I made 22 contacts, with one confirmed QSO to Italy! I’m in Chicago!
Some Hams don’t like FT8. It’s pretty much two computers talking to each other over the air. But, as a weak-signal mode I still have a lot of fun racking up contacts. Over the course of a few weeks I had over 600 QSO’s, some many miles away.
Looking at the Map. you can see I’m not getting out West so much… That’s because my Antenna is a Sloper, blocked by my house to the West 😦
I took my (tr)uSDX on my very first POTA Activation and had over 20 contacts in just a few hours.
If you want to have some fun, you can get a (tr)uSDX Kit for about $100, assembled units are about $140. I mentioned “approved” sellers… Manual evaluates samples from sellers, so you can be confident you will get a functioning and registered unit. I got mine on Amazon from the Malahit Store.
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